The Sherburne County Board last week approved the creation of a Development Task Force.

 

The idea was first proposed by Commissioner Tim Dolan last December as a way to help facilitate development in the county.

 

“The point of this task force is to review, examine and perhaps streamline development activities county-wide,” said Administrator Steve Taylor. “The task force would report back to a workshop before the county board.”

 

The county, each city and each township has their own development goals and priorities. A task force would help coordinate those goals to work more efficiently. But since the group hasn’t met yet, Taylor said the actual goals haven’t been set.

 

“It’s fairly broad at this point,” he said. “What I would recommend to the board would  be to  decide the scope - what’s going to be discussed.”

 

The proposed task force would be made up of  Commissioners Tim Dolan and Felix Schmiesing, Zoning Administrator Nancy Riddle, Assistant Administrator  Dan Weber, Public Works Director Andrew Witter and either Kathleen Heaney or Tim Sime from the county attorney’s office.

 

Schmiesing said he would prefer to have one person appointed from the county attorney’s office who would attend all the meetings.

 

“We’re not always sure what the demands are for the court,” said Heaney. She felt either attorney could substitute for the other if necessary.

 

Taylor said it may be possible to work around schedules to accommodate one person.

 

Commissioner Raeanne Danielowski said she would also like to be a part of the task force because of her involvement in planning and zoning.

 

But that would put three commissioners on the task force, which would create a quorum.

 

“I think we would all like to serve on this,” said Commissioner Lisa Fobbe. “But my understanding is this is at committee level. It will all come back to the board at a workshop. So we then can all have continued input.”

 

Schmiesing agreed.

 

“This task force doesn’t even know what it’s going to be yet,” he said. “I think they’ll be a lot of communication.”

 

Taylor said it may be helpful to have someone from the development community on the task force who is not a county staff person. But he said the committee could determine if they need other members when the meet for the first time.

 

 

In keeping with the theme of economic development, the board approved a one-year contract with Lockridge Grindal Nauen (LGN) for state lobbying services for the county and City of Becker to advance the infrastructure needs of an industrial park through state bonding dollars.

 

Under the contract, LGN will provide legislative coverage of all House and Senate Committees and report back to the county and city and track all significant activities in both legislative bodies and the governor's office that impact the priorities of Sherburne County and the City of Becker. 

 

The county and city have agreed to split the costs, 60/40, with the county paying $28,800 and the city paying $19,200.

 

 

The board appointed the following individuals to serve two-year terms on the Community Corrections Advisory Board: Citizens - Kenneth Asangwe and John Barr; Corrections - Deb Anderson DOC District Supervisor; J. Hancuch, Director, Sherburne County Community Corrections; Education - Angie Charboneau Folch, Asst. Principal, Big Lake H.S.; Judiciary - Judge Mary Yunker,  10th Judicial District; Law Enforcement - Joel Brott, Sherburne County Sheriff, Don Starry, Chief Deputy (alternate); Prosecution - Sam Wertheimer, Chief Deputy, Kathleen Heaney, Sherburne County Attorney (alternate); Public Defense - Lisa Hallberg, Chief Managing Attorney; Social Services - Mary Jo Cobb, Director, Sherburne County HHS, Amanda Larson, Administrative Supervisor (alternate).

 

 

The board accepted a DNR Conservation Partners Legacy Grant in the amount of $110,700. The grant is for the construction of water management for migratory birds amenities adjacent to Co. Rd. 16 and in coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

 

 

The board awarded the contract to reconstruct Co. Rd. 38 from Hwy. 169 to the east county line to Knife River Corporation at $2,212,191.19. Other bidders were: New Look Contracting, Inc. $2,264,446.15; Hardrives, Inc. $2,251,494.59; Max Steininger, Inc. $2,648,200.41; Central Specialties, Inc. $2,837,474.42. The engineer's estimate was $2,577,380.90.

 

The board awarded the contract to replace the bridge on Co. Rd. 3 over the Elk River to Redstone Construction LLC at $1,254,129.30. Other bidders were Robert R. Schroeder Construction $1,294,751.08; Structural Specialties, Inc. $1,320,659.97; S&R Reinforcing, Inc. $1,427,910.45; S.M. Hentges & Son, Inc. $1,869,325.00.

 

The engineer's estimate was $1,037,129.80.

 

Tree clearing operations are scheduled between Feb. 4 a March 31. Bridge construction will take place from June 17 through September 20.

 

 

In other action the board:

 

* Set the Truth in Taxation meeting for Dec. 2, 2019 at 6 p.m.;

 

* Reappointed Kenzie Phillips and Mark Lefebvre to the Elk River Watershed Joint Powers Board for one year;

 

* Re-appointed Melanie Waite-Altringer and Clint Jordahl to the Water Plan Advisory Committee for three year terms;

 

* Approved submitting a $2,500 grant application to the Initiative Foundation to assist in the funding of a research and policy consultant to expand Freight Rail Grant opportunities statewide;

 

* Approved a three-year contract with DocuSign, Inc. for $46,000 that includes the purchase of 60 licenses. The software will allow users to quickly and securely access and sign documents and forms that can be utilized by multiple county departments and residents;

 

* Appointed Bryan Lawrence (Commissioner Dist. 3) and Lisa Nelson, (Dist. 5) to three-year terms on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.